Lebara Teams Up with Pop Duo Bonafide

2nd December 2010 – Lebara Mobile, the leading provider of international mobile services and Manchester based musicians Bonafide, today announced a partnership aimed at helping the people of Pakistan rebuild their lives following the devastating floods earlier this year.

Lebara Mobile, has promised to match all proceeds* from Bonafide’s new charity single ‘Jeevay Pakistan’, euro for euro, up to the value of €100,000, creating the opportunity to raise €200,000 in total for the people of Pakistan. The single is on sale now and is available on iTunes for 79p. It will also be available on the Lebara Music Portal for Lebara customers.

All proceeds* from the sale of the single will be donated, via the Lebara Foundation, to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), who are working actively on the ground with the Pakistan Red Crescent in the most devastated regions of the country.
Maz and Ziggy from Bonafide have already been helping the people of Pakistan following the severe floods in the region. Their first effort to bring awareness to the issue was a charity car wash held in their hometown of Rochdale, which helped to raise over £5,000. Since then they have been attending a host of fundraising events and donating their performance fees to ensure that the message goes right to the heart of every community.

Having already raised approximately £15,000 through their community work, Ziggy took the money to Pakistan and spent three days in Muzafgar, which is one of the worst hit areas as a result of the floods.

Bonafide are now taking their support for the cause to new heights, by releasing ‘Jeevay Pakistan.’

The song is produced by Kam Frantic, who has previously worked with the likes of Kumar Sanu, Asha Bhosle, Miss Pooja, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Malkit Singh. Written and composed by both Maz and Ziggy and recorded in their good friend, Hunterz’ studio, ‘Jeevay Pakistan’ is a track that will undoubtedly connect the Pakistani community in the UK with their homeland and help them remember their roots.

CEO of Lebara, Ratheesan Yoganathan comments, “Nobody could fail to be moved by the desperate images of the floods in Pakistan. While the initial disaster has passed, there is still a lot of rebuilding to be done. When we heard Bonafide’s charity single, we felt it was a truly uplifting track that gives a message of hope at such a tragic time. We’re pleased to be supporting this initiative to help the people of Pakistan rebuild their homes and their communities. It takes one click to buy the single and Lebara will match that purchase*.”

Maz comments on the partnership with Lebara, “We’re extremely happy to have Lebara on board. Their support and commitment to the single and the Pakistani community is invaluable. We hope this will give people a bigger incentive to go out and buy the track and help the many families in Pakistan re-build their lives.”

Dr Mukesh Kapila, Under Secretary General at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies adds: “The response from around the world has been heart-warming. But our job is far from over. It is important to keep the funds coming in for the long haul to help rebuild these devastated lives and livelihoods. We must also invest in future disaster reduction, or else this tragedy will recur. We know it can be difficult for people here to give to people in a faraway place when they may themselves be struggling financially. Bonafide’s uplifting music brings us closer. Each single bought is a lifeline of hope to an affected family in Pakistan”.

‘Jeevay Pakistan’ is now available on iTunes for 79 pence. It will also be available on the Lebara Music Portal (http://Uk.lebara.mobi) for all Lebara customers.

The track will be supported by a special video featuring footage from Ziggy’s trip to Muzafgar as well as a host of cameo appearances from celebrities lending their support to the fundraising campaign, including Pakistani cricketers Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal and Azhar Mahmmod, England cricketers Sajid Mahmood and Adil Rashid, BBC News 24 presenter, Mishal Hussain, Pakistani pop princess, Annie Khalid, pop stars Raghav, H Dhami, Mumzy, Shizzio, TQ and Hunterz, as well as TV and radio presenters Ameet Chana and Gulzaeb.

The video has already received unprecedented support with a commitment from TV channels including B4U, Brit Asia, Colours, Dunya TV, Imagine Dil Se, MATV, Music India, NTV, Prime TV and Star Plus to give it maximum airplay in order to help reach the €200,000 target.

* All revenue, after deduction of VAT and iTunes fees, will be donated by Bonafide and matched by Lebara Mobile; this should be no less than 50% of the retail price of each single purchased.